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BREEDERS' CUP THEY SAID IT

NOVEMBER 7, 2009

"You know, Life is Sweet is the princess, and Zenyatta is the queen in my barn."

—trainer John Shirreffs describing Classic (G1) winner ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]) and Ladies' Classic (G1) heroine LIFE IS SWEET (Storm Cat)

One of Zenyatta's many fans who turned out to support their star (Patrick Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com) "You know, she's really grown and really shown and developed a personality that she really shows off to her fans. She's just grown and handled everything. Del Mar was a big, big turning point for her with the crowd because now she sort of plays the crowd. She loves the crowd. When people yell at her she just does her little prance. I don't know. She's got a relationship with her fans." —Shirreffs on Zenyatta's antics toward her fans "I'd have to say that this certainly makes up for anything that anybody would have thought because we ran against probably one of the best fields ever assembled for a Breeders' Cup Classic. So I think we put it all on the line, like they said. We were all in in the Classic." —Shirreffs in regards to the criticism the Zenyatta team has endured about her 2009 campaign "She just does what she has to do. Everyone talks about the margin of victory because some horses like to just give it their all and go all out. She always just does what she has to do. If they run fast, she'll just run faster. That's what she's always done. She's never tried to just blow the field away. She just likes to get by them and that's good enough for her." —jockey Mike Smith on what Zenyatta puts into her races

"Well, it started out with a little concern after the mishap at the gate. We had to unload and everyone had to get off. And she started getting a little agitated. We got her back in the gate, and she was standing so still I didn't want to move her. But I was a little worried when the gates opened she wouldn't move period, and she didn't. She actually spotted a length or two leaving there. I had to get her out of there. I had to hit her out of there. When she did come out she was in her left lead. Which isn't what you want to be in. You want to be in your rights on the straights and lefts on the turns. I let her go. Let her get back to the lead and she gathered herself up."

—Smith on the delay at the start of the Classic

Queen of the Breeders' Cup! (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com) "Then she kicked on. And the crowd started screaming. She thought maybe I should stop and pose again. She started pricking her ears and looking at the crowd, and I got after her a little bit, and she went on. And she still went, believe it or not, well within herself. She was pricking her ears and galloped out. She didn't even take a breath after the race was over. It's just incredible." —Smith on Zenyatta hamming it up to the crowd in the Classic stretch "Very quietly. Stepped off very gently and just prayed that she didn't get too excited." —Smith when asked how he handled Zenyatta being backed out of the gate "You know, I wish they would have brought her here so we could have proved to the racing world what Zenyatta's really about. I think she proved it today. But like I said there was still more left there. I'm not going to go out and say I'm going to beat her, because that's just someone's opinion. But I would have gave anything to run against her." —Smith on a match race between Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro)

"We think John did an unbelievable job with her, and Mike rode her like a champ. We can't thank these two guys enough for making this experience for us."

—owner Jerry Moss showing his appreciation to Shirreffs and Smith

Team Zenyatta (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com) "Well, that's up to you guys, really. It's not really up to us. We just brought the horse here. We beat whoever showed up, frankly. She ran her race and she won. I'm not taking anything away from that other filly (Rachel Alexandra). As I've always said, she's run a tremendous campaign, and they deserve a lot of credit. I think it's a tough one. So you guys are going to have to figure it out." —Moss when asked if he believed Zenyatta should be honored as Horse of the Year "Well, she's a lot more generous than a lot of stars are, let me put it that way (laughing). She gives you back an awful lot." —Moss comparing Zenyatta with some of the stars he's met as co-founder of A&M Records

—English-based rider Thomas Queally on his trip aboard TWICE OVER (GB) (Observatory), who finished third in the Classic

—jockey Kent Desormeaux on Classic fourth-placer SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone)

—Bob Baffert, who conditions Classic sixth-placer RICHARD'S KID (Lemon Drop Kid)

"We were right next to the big mare. He ran his hair out."

—trainer Craig Dollase on AWESOME GEM (Awesome Again), who ran seventh in this second Classic appearance

"She's a different class. By far. By millions."

—conditioner Saeed bin Suroor on Zenyatta; bin Suroor's runners, REGAL RANSOM (Distorted Humor) and GIROLAMO (A.P. Indy), finished eighth and 12th, respectively

"It's been a phenomenal ride (with this horse). He needs to get a little rest, and then get back on the dirt. I had a clean trip. About the three-eighths pole I saw Zenyatta going. I tried to follow her because I didn't want her to get away from me, but he couldn't do it."

—jockey Calvin Borel on Kentucky Derby (G1) hero MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone), who ran ninth in the Classic

"I'm kind of disappointed. I thought we were in great shape when they went by the grandstand for the first time; he looked comfortable. Going into the first turn he still looked good. But down the backstretch, when Zenyatta kicked on by us, he just didn't snap up and go. Calvin said when he asked him, he made a run, but he couldn't sustain it. He's traveled seven thousand miles this year and that takes a lot out of a horse."

—Chip Woolley, who trains Mine That Bird

"He sat off them just fine but when I got to the three-eighths pole he emptied out pretty quick. He warmed up well. I suppose the big delay at the start might not have helped him, but really no excuse today; it's after having a long season in Europe and maybe this race was just one race too many."

—jockey Johnny Murtagh on multiple Group 1 winner RIP VAN WINKLE (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]), who crossed under the Classic wire in 10th

Goldikova left trainer Freddie Head speechless (Ted Terquinio/Horsephotos.com) "But for me, first I want to say that it's something -- I don't have the words to say what I feel because having ridden a horse like her, and now training a horse like her, it's something you can't dream of. —Freddie Head on the feeling of riding Miesque and training GOLDIKOVA (Ire) (Anabaa), both two-time winners of the Mile (G1) "I get much more nervous just watching than riding. I think I was much more nervous before the race than when I used to ride Miesque." —Head on the difference between watching from the stands and riding in the race

"Well, the amazing thing is a horse like her, she's very easy to train. I mean, she does everything herself. And coming here and winning is not more difficult than any race we run in. She's always gives her best. She has no problem. Never puts her foot wrong. She just keeps on galloping and she's happy wherever she is. So it is quite special. She's a freak, I think, really."

—Head says that Goldikova trains herself

"It was a completely different race. She showed us today that she could come from a long way (back). We have never been riding her that way. But you see last time at Longchamp we got beat because we were drawn 14 out of 14 (in the Prix de la Foret [Fr-G1]). So today being drawn 11, we didn't have a choice. I wanted my jockey to wait. He couldn't get a cover not being too far. So I wasn't too concerned in the race, but it's always difficult to give distance away."

—Head contrasts Goldikova's come-from-the-clouds manner of winning this time with her pace-stalking victory in 2008

Goldikova showed a new dimension to come from far back (Benoit Photo) "Yeah, he said he thought he had a good run, and he was almost sure of the win all the way. When he came into the turn, he knew he had won the race. But from the stands, that's not what I thought (laughing)." —Head relates what Peslier told him afterward "And today Freddie told me how to ride, and said I can't start well because if I'm too on the bridle...maybe she's dead before the last turn. And I prefer to just stay quiet, see what's happening, and see what's happening after the turn. And she's very kind. She's very relaxed. On the turn I just see the pacemaker is very far. But anyway, I'm just thinking, you know, the fast pace. I leave a chance, and for sure my filly finishes well. When she is very relaxed, always she finishes well." —Olivier Peslier on his early tactics aboard Goldikova

"For the last turn, and I have two possibilities, outside or inside. And also outside you can follow the pace, and I'm going to stay in. And I see Frankie (Dettori on Delegator [GB]) just moving well. And I just come through to the middle. After that I don't want to stay really on the rail. I just go straight to the outside. Because if I follow the pace inside maybe I have no place to go, too many horses, and I want plenty space. For sure she's coming very fast. And everybody thinks she's winning. Very easy."

—Peslier on his late tactics aboard Goldikova

"No, I don't think it had any impact. But I must say that every horse in the race had Lasix. I think it would have been silly to come away from such a long, long distance and not to run on equal terms with the others. So it's not a question of her being better with Lasix or not. But I just -- it was just paying respect to her to give her every tool to try and win a race like that."

—Head on running Goldikova on Lasix

Conduit will retire to stud in Japan next year (Ted Terquinio/Horsephotos.com) "We don't know yet." —Gerard Wertheimer, co-owner/breeder of Goldikova, won't be lured into confirming whether Goldikova will stay in training "Yes, it was a messier race this year. (Jockey) Ryan (Moore) will tell you more about that. But he wasn't as convincing this time. But I think understand under the circumstances it was probably as good a performance." —trainer Sir Michael Stoute on CONDUIT's (Ire) (Dalakhani) title defense in the Turf (G1)

"My only problem was I stopped behind two horses that I didn't want to be following, which wouldn't take me to him. So we actually used a bit of petrol early on just to get him into a nice spot down the back straight. You know, I always thought his class would return in the end."

—jockey Ryan Moore on his early maneuvering aboard Conduit

"I'd just like to say one thing. It's a remarkable statistic that four out of (my) five Breeders' Cup winners have come from Ballymacoll Stud -- this small stud in County Meath -- and it's a wonderful tribute to Peter Reynolds and Lord Weinstock and his son, Simon, who set this whole show up. And we're delighted to keep it going with the help of Laura and Michael Lester."

—Stoute pays tribute to the owners of Conduit, who also campaigned 1996 Turf winner Pilsudski (Ire) and 2003 Filly & Mare Turf (G1) queen Islington (Ire)

Dancing in Silks outran the expectations of everyone but his connections (Ted Terquinio/Horsephotos.com) "Yeah, definitely. That was a huge disappointment. On days like today it definitely makes it feel a lot better." —jockey Joe Talamo when asked whether his victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint made up for missing the mount on I Want Revenge, the morning-line favorite who was scratched the morning of the Kentucky Derby (G1) "I really to be honest tried to discourage (owner) Ken (Kinakin) from putting that much money up. The horse is doing tremendously well. He was doing so much better than he was the previous year. He had matured. He was very, very sound. But still I was concerned about dumping all that money in there. And he sad no, Carla, power of positive thinking, let's go. And I said okay, let's. And it's been fun ever since, especially right now." —Trainer Carla Gaines explaining her doubts about putting up a 9 percent supplement to get DANCING IN SILKS (Black Minnaloushe) in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1)

"It's always a relief to win any race, and winning (a) Breeders' Cup race is the icing on top of the cake. We've had a great year, really. It's been a fantastic year for Godolphin. But it wouldn't be quite complete unless we'd won a race here. I think this really does make it a really benchmark year for Godolphin."

—Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) with VALE OF YORK (Ire) (Observatory); Godolphin topped all owners with 15 entries in the 14-race Breeders' Cup program, and the 30-1 Vale of York provided them with their lone winner

"I think the first thing is that when he ran so well at Ascot, we were looking for a nice Grade 1 for him to compete in. And the race in Milan was a good run for him. He ran exceptionally well there. He got beaten, but it was a really strong effort. Because he's so tough and he takes to traveling well, that's when we thought about the Breeders' Cup Juvenile because, as we say, he's very tough and takes his traveling well. But he had to run well in Milan to book his ticket to here. And he did run well there, so that's why we came here."

—Crisford on the decision to send Vale of York to the Breeders' Cup; the two-year-old colt made his first four starts in England before shipping to Italy for the Gran Criterium (Ity-G1)

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor and jockey Ahmed Ajtebi congratulate either other following Vale of York's win (Benoit Photos) "Ahmed Ajtebi has been riding for our stable for more than six months now. He was riding for our stable throughout the winter for some of our horses in Dubai, and certainly some of them in Europe. Basically, he's a Dubai national. He's a young, apprentice jockey. You know, he's had some big opportunities, Sheikh Mohammed has given him some big opportunities in some of the big horses we've got in our stable. He doesn't ride all of them, obviously, Frankie Dettori is our stable jockey. We don't even have a retainer with Ahmed Ajtebi. But he certainly rides some of them. And the ones that Sheikh Mohammed would like him to ride, and this horse was one of them." —Crisford on Ahmed Ajtebi, who became the first Middle Eastern-born jockey to win a Breeders' Cup race when garnering the Juvenile; Frankie Dettori didn't have a mount in the race "Well now he might be voted Claimer of the Year. I like his breeding by Smart Strike, the mare that Sheikh Mohammed stood. So the breeding was impeccable. The horse was three years old. He was young. I used my claiming methods primarily from the rag sheets. He had improving rag sheets numbers. (Trainer) Mike (Maker) checked him out. Said he was clean, clean leg and all that, so we decided to go for it. And now you know the rest of the story." —owner Ken Ramsey on why he claimed Dirt Mile (G1) winner FURTHEST LAND (Smart Strike) for $35,000 in October 2008 "I want to take my hat off to Mike, without him we certainly wouldn't have been here. He has really developed this horse from a $35,000 claimer to a Grade 1 Breeders' Cup winner. You got to take your hat off to him. He's probably a future Hall of Famer just like his mentor, D. Wayne Lukas." —Ramsey on Mike Maker, who is another in a long line of former D. Wayne Lukas assistants who have gone on to success on their own

"I figured if we can get a mile, he was closing today, we should get a mile and a quarter in Dubai and, the (purse) is going to be $10 million, I understand. So maybe we can somehow finagle an invitation from Sheikh Mohammed to take him over there."

—Ramsey, who won the 2005 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) with Roses in May, on future plans for Furthest Land; the 2010 Dubai World Cup will be run over Tapeta for the first time, and Furthest Land is now three-for-three over all-weather tracks

Pounced gave Gosden his fourth BC victory (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com) "He's an equally agile, athletic horse, you know. He has a high cruising speed, great acceleration. He's grown in length in the last year. Changed shape. Must have been the good grass in Kentucky when he was a baby." —trainer John Gosden comparing Juvenile Turf (G2) winner POUNCED (Rahy) to Donativum (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux) who won the same race for him in 2008 "I personally like the European courses where we don't race on medication. So I'd be happy to run on no Lasix today. But I've been around the block a few times and I know everybody else is using it. And I come to the heat of Santa Anita, and the cauldron of racing here on Breeders' Cup day. It puts the horse under a lot of pressure, and I don't want to find out under that pressure he's bled when others have had the advantage of using Lasix. That's why I use it. When in Rome, do what Romans will do. However, of course he can win without medication." —Gosden comments on his decision to treat Pounced with first-time Lasix

"Well, I thought about it for a few years that when I left I made a mistake. Charlie Whittingham gave me the greatest compliment of my life. I was saddling a horse with him. But it hadn't been public knowledge. He was behind tightening the girth and he lent over and said John, tell me you're thinking of going home. I'll come and pack for you (laughing)."

—the English-based Gosden on whether he'd ever return to Santa Anita full-time

More Breeders' Cup News & Notes:

Bayern, California Chrome and Shared Belief all OK after BC Classic

BC two-day attendance rises, total handle falls; Velazquez wins Shoemaker Award

Main Sequence could have Dubai agenda

Albertrani, Sadler runners doing well following BC efforts

Brown basks in BC triple

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